My fiancé and I drove around 2 hours to visit this beach and although busy it really was fantastic. We paid €10 euros for sun beds and spent most of our time exploring the island, swimming in the delightfully warm and shallow sea and sunbathing in the 40 degrees heat. I’d recommend arriving early and expect crowds particularly in the holiday season.

What an amazing beach! We arrived early before the coaches and there was a wide choice of sunbeds and umbrellas (10 Euros for 2 sunbeds with umbrella). The beach itself is fantastic. Sea all around is so shallow and crystal clear, it was beautiful. We spent a wonderful 6 hours on the beach and could have stayed longer. The toilets were clean (50 cents) and there was a changing cubicle. The bar restaurant (take away only) is expensive, so luckily we brought our own food (stopped in a bakery in a mountain village on the way). There are obviously lots of people as it's one of the top beaches in the world, but the beach and sea are extensive and so it didn't feel crowded. Would definitely return.

First, we got on a bus at the Chania Bus Station at 9am. The tickets were 20€ round trip. The bus was comfortable but you can’t eat in the bus so you have to plan ahead because it is a 2 hour trip. About half way down the road, the road becomes very narrow and with a lot of turns. If you get carsick easily you should take something beforehand. After 2 hours you finally arrive at 11am at the beach. In the beach you can rent 2 sunbeds and an umbrella for 15€. We were able to get 2 umbrellas before all of the people arrived. The sand isn’t really that pink anymore but it is still an amazing beach. It has beautiful water and landscape. We loved it. I went in May and it was very windy and the water was relatively cold. Only a couple of people were completely swimming because it was so cold. You should check with a local about the wind. Eventually throughout the day, the wind calmed down and it was lovely weather. The temperature was nice, it was 22C and my friends and I were able to tan nicely and get in the water just at knees high. We have a lovely day. We would definitely go back but maybe when it is hotter so the water can be warmer. I would recommend this beach even in May. :) There is only one restaurant in the area and it sells Sandwiches, Pizza, Gyros, Ice cream and drinks. There is also a bathroom available for 1€ which was really clean. There is also place for you to change. Our drive back was shorter, about 1 hour and a half.

As the picture this beach has a variety of wonderful colors from light green to turquoise and dark blue. The only problems we had it was windy, therefore it was a kind of chilly getting out of the water. And secondly we went with an excursion group and there were not enough time to spend in the beach since at the very beginning we stopped like 45 minutes in a restaurant to eat breakfast... Too much time !!!

Lovely beach & experience. Driving there can be tricky as very narrow, snake-like roads & driving down the mountains. I recommend taking the local bus €20 return, leaves 9am from Xania town arriving the beach @ 11am, leaves the beach @4pm. Really enjoyed wading in the water Disappointed didn’t see much pink sand just a little shimmer

There is a reason why this beach was voted as one of the most beautiful places in the world. The pink sand, the crystal clear waters are very special. It is recommended to visit very early in the morning or after 6 pm when most of the people are gone. Amazing sunset.

This beach is the most beautiful functional beach I’ve seen so far and I visited several places (Cuba, Corsica, Sardinia, Croatia, some other Greek islands etc.). It’s not only extremely beautiful with clean water of all shades of blue it’s also very convenient - easily reachable by car and it suits its main purpose - you can swim and snorkle and admire sea world. Even in windy weather there are no waives. You can get sunbeds and umbrella (10 euros per umbrella and don’t be too late as they can be sold out by midday) there are showers, toilettes, drinks, snacks-everything nicely integrated in nature. Whole family loved it and we visited the beach twice in one week although it took as about an hour and half in one direction. This year it is not crowdy due to coronavirus situation but I am affraid it could be overcrowded under normal circumstances at this time of the year.

Went mid-October, water was a bit cool but it was still warm enough to swim and enjoy sunbathing. The sand is pink - in places, but perhaps best seen through a snorkel? Bright pink stripes of sand over the greyer base. Sand is fine otherwise an the beach fairly shallow all over, with patches of rocks good for snorkelling. The very shallow lagoon is beautiful and great for small kids. I can imagine it getting a bit too crowded during summer months, as it was, there were plenty of people but not overcrowded as such. It makes sense to walk further to the Elafonissi Island, for the views of the sand dunes and the plants there, and for more beach space. I find the price of 10 € per umbrella spot a bit steep, especially as I was by myself, and just flopped on the beach past the umbrella area, I did not walk as far as you can go to the protected area. Bring your own umbrella there if you want, no shade is otherwise available. Only thing maybe lacking was choice of food? I had a sandwich and a coffee, both fine, but there are not any choices of restaurants at the beach itself, perhaps further away from it there is more.

I LOVED Elafonisi. The drive is a bit crazy you will need to be a confident driver, but it is worth it in my opinion. People compare this to Balos beach - but both are complete paradise - I recommend seeing both! The drive to Elafonisi is a lot easier than Balos - if going with kids/elderly/disabled I would recommend this beach by far!! The water is crystal clear, plenty of places for pictures, places for food, toilet, beach floats/towels etc!! everything you need is here (unlike Balos beach) !! Really an amazing day and a must visit if you are in West Crete. We didn't see the pink sand but that did not change how amazing this beach is!

A stunning beach with beautiful crystal clear shallow water, warm enough to swim or snorkeling. The sand is amazing, not as pink as you can see the advertised pictures but probably not the perfect time for the crushed seashells. We have visited it off season (1st June) but still crowded in the morning due to plenty coaches arrived by 11am. You may not be able to find any sunbeds available but will be better after 2pm when most of the coaches will depart. We drove from Georgioupolis (around 2h). Half of the way was on the E75/EO90 and before Kissamos we turned left on PEO90/PEO Kissamou Chanion, then turned right and stayed onto Epar.Od. Kaloudianon-Chrisoskalitissas (signs for Elafonisi/Paleochora/Topolia) , which is a small mountain road and you should drive carefully. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented (€15 for 2 sunbeds and umbrella for all day -> €5/sunbed). Plenty free parking spaces, toilet available on the beach (€0.50 tax), beach bars, cafeteria for something to eat not very far from the beach, showers and shop to buy beach accessories. Also, kayaks can be rented on the beach (€10/hour for single kayak and €20/hout for double kayak). A perfect beach to spend the day with family (suitable for small children as well)...a bit windy but nothing matters when you are in such an amazing place like this one. Recommended 100%.